Journalists welcome the idea of an independent government-owned newspaper in Penang, but media experts cautioned that it may eventually become propaganda sheets of the ruling party.

Senior journalist Himanshu Bhatt said Pakatan Rakyat can demonstrate its commitment towards "a genuinely free and unshackled media environment" with the advent of such a publication.

NONE "If a media platform is established, Pakatan must then set an example by allowing its editorial to remain neutral and not subject to political influence, from either side of the divide," added Bhatt.

He was responding to the initiative of two media activists - Wong Chin Huat and Haris Ibrahim - who are asking the Pakatan to honour its 2008 election pledge to ‘produce, publish and print' at least one independent state daily newspaper in Bahasa Malaysia.

This allowed under Section 25(1) of the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984, where it is stated that any state government can publish a newspaper without having to apply for a licence from the Home Ministry.

Danger of becoming mouthpiece

Selangor has already published its political tabloid ‘Kabar Era Pakatan' but thousands of copies were seized by the Home Ministry recently for not carrying a publishing permit.

But a state-owned ‘independent' newspaper will still have own priorities and ends, and therefore, mouthpieces of the respective governments, cautioned Communications lecturer Dr Mustafa K Anuar.

However, unlike party organs, state newspapers should and can have a bigger agenda or perspective incorporating the collective views and policies of the Pakatan, he said.

"The state should allow for some space to the general public to express their views and criticisms in their respective newspapers," he added.

mustafa anuar Such an effort will prevent these publications from transforming into total and unabashed propaganda sheets, said Mustafa ( right ), who is Aliran secretary and coordinator of Charter2000, a Penang-based media watchdog.

Meanwhile, political analyst Ooi Kee Beng said a Pakatan-owned newspaper has to be more concerned about the state rather than the administration if it wants to be successful.

Local papers

Penang had practically always had newspapers which focused more on state rather than national matters, added the fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

"It was only after The Star moved to Kuala Lumpur and the Straits Echo closed down in the mid-1980s that the state was left without its own newspaper," recalled Ooi.

"The period since the 1980s is therefore an anomaly, and it is time that Penang returns to its tradition of being a centre of intellectual discourse,"  he added.

ooi kee beng Ooi ( left ) is editor of the newly published Penang Economic Monthly , a serious magazine by think-tank Penang's Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute.

Famous journo-blogger Anil Netto, however, had mixed feelings about the matter, and questioned whether it would be able to capture public interest.

"(This can happen) simply because it will be seen as another propaganda organ promoting vested interests," quipped Netto.

He cited several effective publications by NGOs such as Aliran Monthly , Penang Economic Monthly , Utusan Konsumer and Third World Resurgence and suggested that these be promoted widely.